Continuous refluxing still



May/25 1926.

A l,586,133 M. J. TRUMBLE CONTINUOUS REFLUXING STILL Filed Sept. 8', 1924 Warm/Hs,

Patented May 25, 1926.

1,586,133 PATENT OFFICE.

MILON J'. TRUMBLE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CONTINUOUS REFLUXING STILL,

Application led September My invention relates to the art of refining petroleum oils and more particularly to the art of cracking oils.

It is a well known fact that if a.I petroleum oil is subjected simultaneously to'heat and pressure, a rearrangement of the molecules thereof takes place, a portion of the oil breaking up into low boiling point oils and into heavier reaction products.

It is an object of my invention to provide an apparatus bywhich the cracking of oil can be very expeditiously carried on.

Further objects and advantages of the in vention will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing which is entirely diagrammatic, l 1 is any convenient type of cracking still `which is lnounted in a furnace 2 which is heated by an oil or gas burner 3. Other types of still or furnace may be substituted*- therefor, Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Oil is delivered preferably continuously to the still l from an oil supply pipe 4 through a pressure pump 5. The still V1 is provided with a dome 6 having an outlet pipe 7 which connects with a reiiuXing coil 8 situated in a rerun chamber 9. The lower end ot'- the coil 8 is connected through a pipe 10 with a perforated pipe 11 immersed inv the oil in the still 1. Vapor is also taken from the still 1 through a pipe 15 having a pressure regulating valve 16 and into a conventionaldesign of condenser 17. This condenser is preferably cooled by water admitted through a pipe 18 and taken olf through a pipe 19. The condensates produced in the condenser 17 are delivered through a pipe 20 into the reruni chamber 9, any surplus oil accumulating in this chamber being taken ofi' through a pipe 25 and delivered to aA pump 26, which in turn delivers the oil ,under pressure into the still 1. A petcock is provided in the pipe 7. Vapor may be taken from the top of the rerun chamber 9 through a pipe which is connected to a condenser 36. The condensates produced in the condenser 36 are taken off through a` pipe 37. Uncondensed vapors are taken from the condenser 36 through a pi e 38 and from the condenser` 17 through a plpe 39. Residuum may be withdrawn from the still through a pipe 40. v

The method of operation is as follows:

The still 1 is being charged with oil by means of the pump 5 to about the level 8, 1924. Serial N0. 736,436.

shown, the still is heated to a cracking temperature by means of the burner 3. During the preliminary heating a rapid evaporation takes place from the still and vapors are delivered through the coil 8'. This reiiuxing coil is immersed in .condensate from the condenser 17 and the vapors therein are rapidly cooled, forming condensates which are passed down through the pipe. l0 and through the perforations in the pipe 11 into the body of oil in the still l. In starting, originally contained gas or air may be removed from the pipe 7 and. the refiuxing coil 8 through the petcoch 30. The vapois withdrawn from the still 1 through the pipe 15 are condensed in the condenser 17 and are delivered in the form of a cooled condensate into the rerun chamber 9through the pipe 20. The liquid in the rerun -chamber 9 is heated by thereiluxing coil 8 and aldistilla'tion takes place therefrom. The temperature of the liquid in the rerun chamber is at all times sufficiently low to prevent the reevaporation therefrom of anything having a higher boiling point than the desired product. This desired product passes oiil as a vapor through the pipe 35, is condensed in the condenser 36 and deliveredas a product through the pipe 37. Any surplus liquid collecting in the rerun chamber 9 is a distillate of higher boiling point than the desired product and is delivered through the pipe 25 to the pump 26 and returned to the still l for retreatment. It will be noted that the reluxing coil 8 with the pipes 7, 10 and 1l form a closed system without any outlet from the still. Duringithe operation of the process there is a continuous flow of hot vapor into the reA iluxing coil and continuous condensation therein, thc condensates being returned to the still 1 for reluxing, lA pressure sufficient to insure good cracking operation is maintained on the still 1 by the pressure regulating valve 16, which is so constructed that it holds the pressure in the pipe 15 and in the still 1 at a predetermined pressure. The pumps 5 and 26 serve to force liquid back into the still under this pressure.

My invention involves the conceptiony of applying to a cracking still a reiiuxing coil arranged for a continuous circulation, and condensation of the products which it is desired to .reiiux.

I claim as my invention: 1. An apparatus for cracking oils compipe 7 into the refluxing llO lil

Bil

prising: a still; means for heating said still; a refluxing coil; means for delivering vapors irom said still to said reiluxing coil: means for delivering condensate from said refluxing coil to said still; a condenser; means i'or delivering vapor from said still to said condenser; Walls forming a rerun chamber in which said rctluxing coil is situated; means 'for delivering condcnsates from said condensate to said rerun chamber; means for delivering surplus liquid from said rerun chamber to said still; and means for condensing vapors produced in said rerun chamber. l

2. An apparatus for cracking oils com prising: a still, means for heating said still; a reiluxing coil; means for delivering vapors from said still to said refluxing coil; means for delivering condensates directly back from said refluxing coil to said still; a condenser; means for delivering vapor from said still to said condenser; a pressure regulating valve7 between said still and said con-` denser, set to maintain a superatmospheric pressure on said still; Walls forming a re run chamber in `which said reiluxing coil is situated; means for delivering condensates from said condenser to said rerun chamber; means for delivering surplus liquid from said rerun chamber to said still; and means for condensing vapors producedl in said rerun chamber.

8. flu apparatus Jfor cracking oils comprising: a still; means for heating said still; a reluxing coil; means for delivering vapors from said still to said reluxing coil; means for delivering condensates directly back from said refluxing coil to said still; a conA denser; means for delivering vapor from said still to said condenser; Walls forming a rerun chamber in which Said reluxing coil is situated; means for delivering condensates from said condenser to said rerun chamber; a pump connected to take surplus liquid from said rerun chamber' and force it under superatmospheric pressure into said still; and means for condensing apors produced in said rerun chamber,

t. An apparatus for cracking oils conn prising: a still; means for heating said still; a reluxing coil; means for delivering vapors from said still to said reiluxing coil; means for delivering condensates directly back from said refluxing coil to said still; a condenser; means for delivering vapor from said still to said condenser; a pressure regulating valve, between said still and said condenser, set to maintain a superatmospherie pressure on said still; walls forming a rerun chamber in which said refluxing coil is situated; means ior delivering condensates from said condenser to said rerun chamber; a pump connected to take surplus liquid from said rerun chamber and force itl under superatmospheric pressure into said still;

nasales and means for condensing vapors produced in said rerun chamber.

5. An apparatus for cracking oils comprising: a still; means for heating said still; a reiuxing coil; means for delivering vapors from said still to said refluxing coil; a peri'orated pipe so placed as to be normally submerged in the liquid in said still; means for delivering condensates directly back from said retluxing coil to said perforated pipe; a condenser; means for delivering vapor from said still to said condenser; walls forming a rerun chamber in which said reiluxing coil is situated; means for delivering condensates vfrom said condenser to said rerun chamber; means for delivering surplus liquid from said rerun chamber to said still; and means for condensing vapors produced in said rerun chamber.

6. .An apparatus for cracking oils comprising; a still; means for heating said still; a refiuxing coil; means for delivering vapors from said still to said reiluxing coil; a perforated pipe so placed as to be normalu ly submerged in the liquid in said stili; means :tor delivering condensates directly back from said reiluxing coil to said perfoi-ated pipe; a condenser; means for delivering vapor 'from said still to said condenser; a pressure regulating valve, between said still and said condenser, set to maintain a superatmospheric pressure on said still; Walls forming a rerun chamber in which said reiiuxing coil is situated; means for delivering condensates from said condenser to said rerun chamber; means for delivering surplus liquid from said rerun chamber to said stillp and means for condensing vapoi-s produced in said rerun chamber.

i'. An apparatus for cracking oils com prising: a still; means for heating said still; a retluring coil; means for delivering vapors from said still to said reluxing coil; a perforated pipe so placed as to be normally submerged in the liquid in said still; means for delivering condensates directly back from said reiluxing coil to said perforated pipe; a condenser; means for de livering vapor from said still to said con-- denser; Walls forming a rerun chamber in which said reiiuxin coil is situated; means for deliverinv' con'ensates from said conu denser to sai rerun chamber; a pump com nected to take surplus liquid from said rcrun chamber and 'force it under superatmospheric pressure into said stillpand means for condensing vapors produced in said rerun chamber,

8. An apparatus for cracking oils comprising: a still; means for heating said still; a reiluxing coil; means for delivering vapors from said still to said reluxing coil; a perforated pipe so placed as to be nor mally submerged in theI liquid in said still; means for delivering condensates directly back from said refluxing coil to said perforated pipe; a condenser; means for deliver-4 ing vapor from said still to said condenser; a pressure regulating valve, between said still and said condenser, set to maintain a superatmospheric pressure on said still; Walls forming a rerun chamber i-n which said reiuxing coil is situated; means for delivering condensates from said condenser to said rerun chamber; a pump connected to take surplus liquid from said rerun chamber and force it under superatmos heric pressure into said still; and means or condensing vapors produced in said rerun chamber.

9. In an oil refining apparatus, the combination of: a still, means for 'feeding the oil to be treated into said still; a reiiuxing coil; a vessel surrounding said reluxing coil; means for delivering vapor. from said still to said reiluxing coil; means for delivering condensates directly back from said refluxing coil to said still; a condenser; means for delivering vapors fromsaid still to said condenser; a pressure regulating valve in said means for delivering vapors from said still to said condenser, said valve being set to maintain a pressure on said still and said refluxing coil; means for delivering condensates from said condenser to the space inside said vessel about said refluxing coil; means for withdrawing vapors from said vessel; and means for delivering liquid from said vessel to said still.

In 'testimony' whereof, IJhave hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 2nd day of Sept., 1924.

MILoN J. 'TRUMBLE 

